The Press and Journal in Aberdeen is considering an appeal after a former business reporter was awarded £5,320 for unfair constructive dismissal by an employment tribunal.

Bob King joined the paper as a general reporter in June 1997 and later became a business journalist in its Inverness office, where he remained until he resigned in March, claiming constructive dismissal.

The 65-year-old had gone home sick three months earlier and did not return to work as his doctor diagnosed him as suffering from depression.

The tribunal, which sat for three days last November, heard Bob felt he was being bullied and harassed by business editor Joe Watson and energy editor Ian Forsyth, both based in Aberdeen.

He said he was constantly being called by the business desk and saw the questioning of his copy as harassment as he had not received such criticism before.

The tribunal heard Joe and Ian were unhappy with the quality of Bob's work, and although they did not take formal disciplinary action they were not willing to let what they saw as poor work go into the paper, so when they felt his stories were not good enough they would call him.

The majority view of the tribunal was that this treatment did amount to bullying and harassment.

The tribunal judgement said: "Whatever view one comes to regarding his competence, the tribunal found it was unreasonable for him to carry on telephoning him with such regularity and in such a manner. This was particularly the case because of his poor health.

"If the applicant was incompetent as Mr Watson and Mr Forsyth claimed he was, then as responsible managers they should have invoked the company's own procedures to deal with the problem properly."

But it added: "The minority view of the tribunal was that what Mr Watson and Mr Forsyth were doing amounted to no more than their job as managers.

"Working in journalism is an intense experience. There are strict deadlines and anyone involved must be prepared to put up with robust criticism."

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